Mar. 4, 2013

Sandra Layne is photographed during her preliminary exam in 48th District Court in Bloomfield Township on Monday, July 2, 2012. Layne is accused of killing her grandson. / WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press

Written by

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

A jury was seated late this afternoon in the case of a West Bloomfield grandmother accused of murdering her 17-year-old grandson last May.

Opening statements are expected in Sandra Layne’s trial Tuesday morning in Oakland County Circuit Court. Layne, 75, is charged with open murder in the death of Jonathan Hoffman, who she was caring for at the time he was killed.

“The defense is self-defense,” defense attorney Jerome Sabbota said.

Layne is expected to testify during the trial, he said.

Hoffman gradually became out of control, Layne gradually became afraid of him and the shooting culminated with him going after her, Sabbota said.

Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper has declined to discuss the specifics of the case.

He was shot five times inside Layne’s condo on Brookview Lane May 18. Hoffman called 911 after being shot, and as he was on the phone, told the operator that he got shot again, according to the 911 recording played during an earlier court hearing.

A police officer has previously testified that when officers arrived at the scene, Layne came out of the front door covered in blood and said, "I murdered my grandson." Hoffman's body was found in an upstairs loft.

Layne, a retired schoolteacher and mother of five, and her husband, were caring for Hoffman after his parents, who were divorcing, moved to Arizona.

Layne’s husband and other family members were in the courtroom during jury selection as were some of Hoffman’s relatives.